India - Day One

Its hard to really call it day one. It was more like 2 days rolled into one. We left Atlanta at 4:00 pm on Sunday and are just now settling into our hotel on Monday night at 11:30 pm. It’s almost Tuesday.

It was a 13 hour flight from New York to Delhi. But with an 11 and a half hour time difference, we flew towards the night. I only saw about 6 hours of daylight today.

Our drive from the airport wasn’t as bad as expected. However, as we were sorting out a complicated cab situation, Steve ran off after our porter and left me with a shady group of cab drivers in the back seat of a Ford hatchback. Already bugs were descending on my flesh and burrowing in my leg hair. A common thing in my life.

After Steve returned and cleared out the discrepancy over directions, we began our 30 minute drive through the city. It was not quite what I expected. The smell of car exhaust filled our open windows. It was overwhelming.

As we drove, keep in mind that its after 11:00 pm, we passed many people who were out walking, standing around, parked, driving. A very busy life for this time of night.

There were many people who were carrying/pulling large carts with flat tops that transported things. Steve told me that some rent their carts and time to move stuff for other people. But many of the carts had food or other items for sale. I saw one cart with what looked like 4 or 5 pounds of cooked rice on top. There was a caravan of carts at one point with a middle aged man, being followed by 3 or 4 younger boys. With a young girl, probably 7-8, who was bringing up the rear. Skipping and dancing behind the last car. She was smiling. I saw God.

As we drove through the outlying areas that were close to the airport, there were buildings – they were really more like make shift rooms – where food was being prepared. Even at 11. And people were out along the streets moving and talking. This was about a 5 mile stretch near the airport. And the buildings looked like they had been bombed. There were boards being used for windows. Pieces of metal as well. Old billboard advertising pieces were used too. There were cracks where you could see straight inside.

When we arrived at the hotel, The Rani Castle, we checked in. You have to fill out all of your information, including Passport information so that they can report to the government who all is in their city that night.

Someone who seemed to be the owner came down and welcomed us. He asked what country we were from. We told him the United States. His response . . . George Bush. He didn’t really say it like he was happy about it. But then again, I’m not good with foreign voice fluctuations and what they mean.

Currently my options on tv are Baywatch, WWE Wrestling in Indian, or Cricket. I watch Cricket. Take an Ambien. And wait for tomorrow.